Early Years Services partnered with the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre to develop a central on-line application website for parents applying for child care. The application site at www.saultdaycare.ca hassignificantly improved the process of applying for a child care space.

The easy on-line application assists parents by identifying child care options available to them based on their needs. It eliminates the need for parents to apply in person at individual child care centres. Although we still encourage parents to visit a centre that interests them, information about each centre will be available on the website. Parents will still have the option of applying in person at Early Years Services, 180 Brock Street or by calling (705) 759-7748.

In addition to providing one point of access for parents requiring child care, the centralized application process provides accurate data on the needs of the child care community and helps eliminate loss of revenue by reducing the time a space remains vacant. Child care operators have more accurate and up to date information on families waiting for a space and the system decreases the administrative time spent addressing applications and wait lists.

The central application process supports the Best Start vision of seamless access to services for parents and children.